Electric soldering-iron.



W. S. HADAWAY, JR. ELECTRIC SOLDERING IRON.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10. 1911.

" Patented 0011 11913.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM-S. HA DAWAY, JR, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW J ERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPOM'IIQIT 01 PENNSYL- VANIA.

ELECTRIC SOLDERING-IBQN.

Specification of Letters ratent. Patented 08$. 14, 1913. Application filed April 10, 1911.

Serial HQ- 620,172

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. HADA- WAY, J r., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Soldering-Irons, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates to electric soldering irons, and it has for its object to provide a device of this character which shall be simple and durable in construction, and effective 1n operation, and one that shall embody means whereby an exceedingly large heating area is exposed in intimate contact with the soldering tip.

According to my invention, I provide an electric soldering iron having an incased type of heater which is substantially tubular in form and is adapted to fit tightly into a tapered receiving member.

The soldering tip is of comparatively large. proportions and hence, ofiers adequate heat storage capacity. Moreover, the shank of the tip is tapered and is adapted to be driven into the tubular heater unit, thereby creating a considerable pressure upon the unit which results in increased efiiciency. It

I is manifest, therefore, that practically all of the tapered shank is in intimate contact with the heater unit, so that nearly all of the heat produced is absorbed and utilized by the tip.

Additional means are provided whereby the soldering tip may be readily removed and, for this purpose a key-way 1S provided through the receiving member at the base of the tip. By inserting a key or wed e, the tip maybe easily driven out in a well: own manner, similar to that employed 1n machine drills and the like, After the removal of the solderin tip, the heateras a single unit may be wit drawn, thus facilitatlng the renewal of defective parts, Furthermore, the heater unitleads are carried'in the shaft of the implement and the terminal connections are efiected within an insulating handle. In general, a particularly simple coinpact and useful device is provided, which 1s extre ely ell adapted. for performance of its intended functions, ready inspection and maintenance in good operatlng condition,

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a view, partially in side elevation and partially in vertical section of a device constructed in accordance wit my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the heater unit shown in Fig. 1, in a preliminary stage of its construction. Figs. 3 and 4: are,

slightly toward its inner end for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The reducing bushing or adapter 2, comprises a body portion 8 and a neck portion 9. The body portion 8 is provided with a large centrally located-recess S 'and a longitudinally disposed slot or keyway' 10, the outer end 11 of said body portion being slightly reduced in diameter in order to fit within the inner end of the receiving member 1, to which it is secured by a fusing process or otherwise. Furthermore,

a recess 12 is provided in one side of the end portion 11 for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

One end of the tubular shaft member 5 fits so called,

ti htly over the hollow neck portion 9 of the a apter 2 and. is suitably secured thereto, while the other end of the tubular member 5 constitutes the body portion of the terminal member 6, to which the external connections are made.

Inasmuch as the structural details of the terminal member 6 form no part of my invention, no detailed descri tion of the same is considered necessary. minal member may be employed, although I ny suitable ter-- the tip 4- is rigidly secured in position.

24 of the soldering tip 4 prefer a structure similar to that shown and describcd in detail in my co-pending application, Serial No. 568,871, filed June 25, 1910, and assigned to the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company. The insulating handle 7, having a recess 13 to accommodate the terminal member 6 and its necessary connections, and an end opening 14 through which a multi-conductor service cable 15 extends, is adapted to be secured to the tubuar shaft member 5 in a well-known manner, and may be readily removed. 3

The heater unit 3 is substantially tubular in form and may be of anysuitable construction, although I prefer a unit which comprisesa plurality of rows of resistance wire 16 of the zig-zag type which is disposed between layers of insulating materials 17 and suitable sheet metal plates 18. Having assembled the unit as described, it is subjected to a considerable pressure, and the outer edges of the plates 18 are fused together in a well-known manner, thereby pfoviding a self-contained and durable unit. oreover, each side plate 18 is provided With a relatively narrow projecting portion 19 in order to form a protecting sheath 20 for a plurality of heater unit leads 21. After the heater unit 3 is in the form shown in Fig. 2, it is fashioned into its final tubular form, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. The completed heater unit 3 may then be inserted into the tapered receiving member 1, care being exercised to dispose the incased leads 21 in the recess 12 of the reducing bushing 2. The leads 21 are suitably insulated from one another and are conducted through thereducing bushing 2 and the tubular shaft member 5 to the terminal member 6, to which they are connected.

The soldering tip 4 comprises the tip proper 22 anda shank body member123 which is tapered slightly toward its inner end to correspond to the taper of the recei'v-' ing member 1. It will be observed that the inner end or base 24 of the shank 23 is tapered considerably, in order toprovide room 'for tha fe "ended protecting sheath 20 of. the heater 'iin-it 3.

Having properly disposed the heater unit 3 within thereceiving member or holder 1. the soldering tip 1 is inserted and driven in, n such manner that considerable pressure 1s exerted upon the entire heater unit and It will be observed that the inner end or base rojects slightly lnto cooperative relationship with the slot or key-way 10 for a purpose to be herein after explained.

Assumin'g the various component parts of the device to occupy the positions shown, the soldering tip 4 and heater unit 3 may be readilyremoved, as follows: it is first advisable to detach the handle 7 and to disconnect the heater unit leads 21 from the terminal member 6, in order that said leads may not be broken when the soldering tip 4; is released. A suitable key or wedge (not shown) is then inserted into the key-way 10, whence the tapered shank of the soldering tip 4 may be easily released, according to a well-known practice, after which the soldering tip 4 and heater unit 3 may be withdrawn.

While I have illustrated and described an electric soldering iron of specific structure, those skilled in the art will readily understand that various modifications in the arrangement and location of parts may be effected without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I desire that only such limitations shall be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims. I

I claim as invention:

1. An electric soldering iron comprising a tapered receptacle open at the outer end, a suitable handle secured to said receptacle, a heater unit of substantially tubular form disposed within said receptacle, and a'tapered member of good heat-conducting material adapted to be driven into said heater unit, whereby pressure upon said unit is produced.

2. In an electric soldering iron, the combination with a tapered shell, and a tubular heater unit fitted therein, of a tapered working member adapted to be secured within said shell and to efi'ect a pressure on said heater unit.

3. In an electric soldering iron, the com bination with a tapered shell and a heater unit removably disposed therein, of a member of good heat-conducting material adapted to be forced into said shell in intimate contact with said heater unit and to ma1ntain a pressurethereon.

4. In an electric soldering iron, the combination with a tapered receiving member,

.a heater unit removably disposed therein and a solderin tip fitted tightly within said heater unit, 0 wedging means for securing said tip in position and for exerting a considerablepressure on said heater unit.

5. In an electric soldering 1I'OI1,, l'l lQ; combination with a supporting member-having a tapered receiving chamber, a thinheater unit adapted toline said chamber, and a soldering tip disposed within said chamber and adapted to make intimate contact with said heater unit, of wedging means for holding said tip in position and for maintaining a pressure on said heater unit.

1 6. The combination with a supporting member havin a receiving chamber, a thin heater unit lining said chamber, and. a removable member of good heat-conducting material ada ted to be driven into said receiving cham er within said heater unit, of

' member for releasing said removable memher from said receiving chamber.

7. The combination with a supporting member having a tapered receiving chamber, a thin heater unit lining said chamber, and a tapered member adapted to be'driven into said receiving chamber within said heater unit, of a constant opening or key-- way through the sides of said supporting member for the purpose of releasing said tapered member from said supporting member.

8. In an electric soldering iron, the combination with a receiving member, a soldering tip adapted to be forced into said receiving member, and a heater unit adapted to make intimate contact with said soldering tip, of means fixedly disposed in said receiving member for removing said tip therefrom. y

9. In an electric soldering iron, the combination with a supporting member having a deep tapered cylindrical receiving-chamber, a thin incased heater unit wrapped into tubular form and adapted to line the sides of said receiving chamber, and a removable soldering tip having a long tapered shank adapted to be forced within said tubular heater unit, of means associated with said support-ing member for removing said soldering tip.

10'. The combinatioirwith a supporting member having an opening or key-way therethrough, a suitable handle-.therefor, a thin tubular heater unit disposed within said supporting member, the leads of sa d heater unit being disposed within said handle, and a removable soldering tip having a long tapered shank adapted to be intimately associated with said heater unit and to main tain the same under pressure.

11. An electric soldering iron comprising a receiving shell, a heater unit wrapped in the form of a hollow cylinder and disposed therein, a tapered soldering tip disposed within said cylindrical heater unit, means for removing said soldering tip, a hollow shaft member attached to said receiving shell, a terminal member associated with said shaft member, and an insulating handle secured to said shaft member and inclosing said terminal member. 0

12. In an electric soldering iron, the combinationlwith a tapered supporting mem ber, and a heater unit disposed therein, of a tapered soldering tip removably fitted into said supporting member and in intimate contact with said heater unit.

13. In an electric soldering iron, the combination with a tapered receiving member open at the outer end, and a heater unit, of a tapered'member of good heatcond ucting material disposed within said receiving member.

14. In an electric soldering iron, the combination with a tapered receiving member and a heater u'nit disposed therein. of a tip member having a tapered portion removably disposed within said heater unit.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 29th day of March, 1911.

WILLIAM s. HADAWAY, JR.

Witnesses:

M. H. LEARY, T. D. MONTGOMERY. 

